Financial Aid 101

There are two types of financial aid

Gift Aid

Gift aid includes scholarships (awards for academic achievement, community service, demonstrated leadership, etc.) and grants (funding to meet a student’s need). These programs reduce school costs but do not require repayment and/or work to receive the funds.

Maryville has a broad range of institutional scholarship programs. They include: The Presidential Scholarship, which is for incoming, full-time freshmen and covers tuition, room and board; Barat, Duchesne and Mouton Scholarships for both incoming freshmen and new transfer students; endowed scholarships, which are gifts to the University from alumni, friends and philanthropic organizations for new and returning students; and programs restricted to specific majors.

The PTK Scholarship is a supplement to the transfer awards for junior college transfers who were a member of this academic organization. The Art & Design Scholarship is awarded fine arts students with outstanding art portfolios upon admission. The Midwest Student Exchange is a grant program offering a need-based, tuition discount to the first 75 full time students who complete the financial aid process and are from IL, IN, MN, MI, WI, NB, KS or ND. All institutional programs are listed under Financial Aid Programs.

The University also participates in federal grant programs such as the Pell Grant and the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) and TEACH Grant, State grants and scholarships (Access Missouri, Bright Flight, Ross Barnett) and our own Maryville Grant Program and Maryville Supplemental Grant.

Scholarships awarded directly to the student from outside sources become part of the total package. Students need to notify the University when they receive any privately funded scholarship.

Self Help

Student Loans (repaid after leaving school) can be used to reduce both direct (tuition, fees, campus residence and books) and indirect costs (living expenses, transportation and day care). Jobs on campus paid through either the Federal or Institutional Work Study programs provide earnings throughout the academic year through direct deposit or debit cards, the student’s choice.

Federal loans allow students to defer payment until after leaving the University. Some loans carry an interest subsidy. All currently have long-term repayment and variable (i.e. changes every July 1, fixed (i.e. all funds borrowed each year are at that fixed rate for the life of those loans) interest. There are also privately funded alternative loan programs designed to supplement funds from institutionally administered programs. These are not federally insured and can carry a higher interest rate, mandatory cosigner and/or favorable credit history.

Campus employment refers to jobs arranged through the Office of Career and Professional Development that can be either on or off campus, partially or completely funded by the University and requiring five to 15 hours per week with nine hours/week being the norm throughout the semester. Students may receive their earnings via direct deposit into an account of his or her specification or a refillable debit card.

Student awards may come from federal, state, institutional or private sources. Many (but not all) financial aid programs are “need based”, which is determined by the federal government’s formula which affixes a value to a family’s income and assets. That value is the family’s “ability to pay”, which once formulated and sent to the University by the processor for the Department of Education is deducted from a school’s costs (tuition, fees, dorm, books and miscellaneous) to establish a family’s need.

Financial awards are a combination of available aid from scholarships, grants, loans and employment programs for which students have established eligibility put together into a “package.” The bottom line is important, but the components and the type of aid each represents are equally crucial in determining the best financial aid options available.

The determination of aid is affected by many factors: family size, timing, grade level, state of residence, previous funding, etc. Changes in any of these may create a change in either the programs or amounts or both. Be certain to complete the student portion of the process as soon as possible to avoid diminishing funds and missing deadlines. Be responsive to communications from Financial Aid whether by mail, e-mail or phone.

Communication is an important resource for students, especially with student counselors, academic advisers and student service center staff. The earlier aid is determined, offered and accepted, the better.

Receiving Aid

An e-mail will be sent to the student giving the steps to follow to view their Financial Aid Award which will be located under Financial Aid in the student portal. Gift Aid will not require any action to accept; however, self-help will need to be either accepted or rejected for each semester. Summer aid will be added once the student has registered for summer classes and will appear with the aid for the current academic year.

Maryville University: Top Over-performing School in the National Universities Rankings

What does it mean to LiveMaryville?

LiveMaryville emphasizes that Maryville University is more than just a classroom, dorm room, library or athletic center. It’s a way of life.

Campus is a safe place, offering a close-knit, nurturing environment.

Class sizes are small so learning is enhanced and personal attention is the norm.

Staff and faculty are true mentors – they know students’ names as well as their life goals.

LiveMaryville is also a state of mind.

Our shared experience reminds us that we are part of something larger than ourselves.

Here, we belong to a community that speaks to our greater sense of self and makes us better lifelong learners.

With all that a Maryville University education embodies, more than 94 percent of our graduates say they would strongly recommend Maryville to a sibling, neighbor or close friend. We hope you’ll make a special connection, too, and that you truly LiveMaryville.